Geotechnical Engg.

-I (VI Sem)

GEOTECHNICAL ENGG. – I (VI sem)

UNIT-1
(Part-2 Index properties of soil)

(Part-2 (iv) Particle size distribution)

Index Properties of Soil:

4. Particle Size Distribution:

This classification test determines the range of sizes of particles in the soil and the percentage
of particles in each of these size ranges. This is also called ‘grain-size distribution’;
‘Mechanical analysis’ means the separation of a soil into its different size fractions.

The particle-size distribution is found in two stages:

(i) Sieve analysis- for the coarse fraction.

(ii) Sedimentation analysis or wet analysis- for the fine fraction.

Nomenclature of Grain Sizes

Natural soils are mixtures of particles of various sizes and it is necessary to have a nomenclature
for the various fractions comprising particles lying between certain specified size limits.

The Indian standard nomenclature is as follows:

Gravel- 80 mm to 4.75 mm

Sand- 4.75 mm to 0.075 mm

Silt- 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm

Clay- Less than 0.002 mm

Sieve Analysis

‘Sieving’ is the most direct method for determining particle sizes. Sieving is a screening
process in which coarser fractions of soil are separated by means of a series of graded mesh.
Mechanical analysis is one of the oldest test methods for soils.

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Sieve designation is specified by the number of openings per inch in the B.S. and A.S.T.M.
standards, while it is specified by the size of the aperture in mm or microns in the I.S. standard.
(IS: 460–1978 Revised).

The test procedure for sieve analysis has been standardised by ISI as given in IS:2720 (Part
IV)–1985.

The complete sieve analysis can be divided into two parts:

1. Coarse Analysis

2. Fine Analysis

An oven-dried sample of soil is separated into fractions by sieving it through a 4.75 mm IS

sieve. The portion retained on (+ 4.75 mm size) is termed as the Gravel fraction and is kept for
the coarse analysis, while the portion passing through (- 4.75 mm size) is subjected to fine sieve
analysis.

The following set of sieves are used for coarse sieve analysis are:

IS: 80, 60, 40, 20, 10 and 4.75 mm

The following set of sieves are used for fine sieve analysis are:

IS: 2 mm, 1 mm, 600 μ, 425 μ, 300 μ, 212 μ,150 μ and 75 μ.

The general procedure may be summarised as follows:

A series of sieves having different-size openings are stacked with the larger sizes over the
smaller. A pan is kept at the bottom and a cover is kept at the top of the assembly. The soil
sample to be tested is dried, clumps are broken if necessary, and the sample is passed through
the series of sieves by shaking. The fractions retained on and passing 2 mm IS Sieve are tested
separately. An automatic sieve-shaker, run by an electric motor, may be used. About 10 to 15
minutes of shaking is considered adequate. Larger particles are caught on the upper sieves,
while the smaller ones filter through to be caught on one of the smaller underlying sieves.

The material retained on any particular sieve should naturally include that retained on the sieves
on top of it, since the sieves are arranged with the aperture size decreasing from top to bottom.
The weight of material retained on each sieve is converted to a percentage of the total sample.
The percentage material finer than a sieve size may be got by subtracting this from 100. The
material passing the bottom-most sieve, which is usually the 75–µ sieve, is used for conducting
sedimentation analysis for the fine fraction.

Weight of soil retained on that sieve

% Retained on particular sieve = x 100
Total weight of soil taken

Cumulative % retained = Sum of % retained on all sieves of larger sizes and the % retained

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on that particular sieve

Percentage finer than sieve under reference = 100% - cumulative % retained

If the soil is clayey in nature the fine fraction cannot be easily passed through the 75–µ sieve
in the dry condition. In such a case, the material is to be washed through it with water, until the
wash water is fairly clean. The material which passes through the sieve is obtained by
evaporation. This is called ‘Wet sieve analysis, and may be required in the case of cohesive
granular soils.

Soil grains are not of an equal dimension in all directions. Hence, the size of a sieve opening
will not represent the largest or the smallest dimension of a particle, but some intermediate
dimension, if the particle is aligned so that the greatest dimension is perpendicular to the sieve
opening.

The resulting data are conventionally presented as a “Particle-size distribution curve” (or
“Grain-size distribution curve”–the two terms being used synonymously hereafter) plotted on
semi-log co-ordinates, where the sieve size is on a horizontal ‘logarithmic’ scale, and the
percentage by weight of the size smaller than a particular sieve-size is on a vertical ‘arithmetic’
scale. The “reversed” logarithmic scale is only for convenience in presenting coarser to finer
particles from left to right.

Logarithmic scales for the particle diameter give a very convenient representation of the sizes
because a wide range of particle diameter can be shown in a single plot; also, a different scale
need not be chosen for representing the fine fraction with the same degree of precision as the
coarse fraction.

Sedimentation Analysis (Wet Analysis)

If the soil contains a substantial (say, more than 5%) of fine particles, a wet sieve analysis is
required. The soil particles less than 75–µ size can be further analysed for the distribution of
the various grain-sizes of the order of silt and clay be ‘sedimentation analysis’ or ‘wet analysis’.

Sedimentation Analysis Theory

The soil fraction is kept in suspension in a liquid medium, usually water. The particles descend
at velocities, related to their sizes, among other things. The analysis is based on ‘Stokes Law’.

Stokes Law

According to the law, gives the terminal velocity of a small sphere settling in a fluid of infinite
extent. When a small sphere settles in a fluid, its velocity first increases under the action of
gravity, but the drag force comes into action, and retards the velocity. After an initial
adjustment period, steady conditions are attained and the velocity becomes constant. The
velocity attained is known as terminal velocity.

‘Terminal velocity’ of a sphere falling through an infinite liquid medium. If a single sphere is
allowed to fall in an infinite liquid medium without interference, its velocity first increases
under the influence of gravity, but soon attains a constant value. This constant velocity, which

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is maintained indefinitely unless the boundary conditions change, is known as the terminal
velocity.

The velocity at which grains settle out of suspension, all factors being equal, is dependent upon
the shape, weight and size of the grain. It is assumed that the soil particles are spherical and
have the same specific gravity (average specific gravity). The principle is obvious, coarser
particles tend to settle faster than finer ones.

By Stokes’ law, the terminal velocity of the spherical particle is given by:

𝟏 𝜸𝒔 − 𝜸𝒘
𝐯 = ( ) 𝑫𝟐 ( )
𝟏𝟖 𝜼

Where, D = diameter of spherical particles (m)

v = terminal velocity (m)

γs = unit weight of particles (kN/m3)

γw = unit weight of water (kN/m3) = 9.81 kN/m3

η = viscosity of water/liquid (kN-s/m2) = μ /g

μ = viscosity in absolute unit of poise

(1 poise = 0.1 N-s/m2) or (1 poise = 10-4 kN-s/m2)

g = acceleration due to gravity

If the water is used as the medium for suspension, γw is equal to 9.81 kN/m3. Also substituting
(γs = G γw), we get:

𝟏 (𝐆 − 𝟏)𝜸𝒘
𝐯= ( ) 𝑫𝟐 ( )
𝟏𝟖 𝜼

If the above formula is expressed in the units of meters, seconds and kilo-newton. If the
diameter (D) of the particles is in mm, we have:

𝟏 𝐃 𝟐 (𝐆 − 𝟏)𝜸𝒘
𝐯= ( ) ( ) ( )
𝟏𝟖 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝜼

𝑫𝟐 𝜸𝐰 (𝐆 − 𝟏)
𝐯= . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (𝟏)
𝟏𝟖 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝛈

Putting, γw = 9.81 kN/m3

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𝑫𝟐 (𝐆 − 𝟏)
𝐯=
𝟏. 𝟖𝟑𝟓 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝛈

Therefore,

𝟏𝟖 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝛈 𝐯
𝐃 = √ (𝐆 mm ……………... (2)
− 𝟏) 𝛄𝐰

or

𝛈𝛎
𝐃 = 𝟏𝟑𝟓𝟓 √ mm
𝐆−𝟏

(1 poise = 0.1 N-s/m2) or (1 poise = 10-4 kN-s/m2)

If a particle of diameter D mm falls through a height He cm in t minutes,

𝐇𝐞 𝐇𝐞
𝐯= cm/sec = m/sec
𝟔𝟎 𝐭 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎𝐭

Substituting the value in eq. (2); we get

𝟏𝟖 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝛈 𝐇𝐞 𝟑𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝛈 𝐇𝐞
𝐃 = √(𝐆 𝐱 = √(𝐆 .√
− 𝟏) 𝛄𝐰 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐭 − 𝟏) 𝛄𝐰 𝐭

or

𝐇𝐞
𝐃 = 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝐅 √
𝐭

3000 η
Where, F = √ is a constant factor for given values of η and G.
(G − 1) γw

However, η depends upon the temperature and the factor F varies with the temperature which
changes during the total time of testing.

At 27οC, the viscosity μ of distilled water is approximately 0.00855 poise.

Since 1 poise = 10-4 kN-s/m2; we have

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η = 0.00855 x 10-4 kN-s/m2

Taking G = 2.68 in eq. (1); we get

𝐃𝟐 (𝟗. 𝟖𝟏) (𝟐. 𝟔𝟖 − 𝟏)

𝐯=
𝟏𝟖 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝐱 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟖𝟓𝟓 𝐱 𝟏𝟎−𝟒

≈ 1.077 D2 (m/sec)

The Sedimentation analysis is done either with the help of a ‘Pipette method’ or a ‘Hydrometer
method’.

The greater the time interval ‘t’ allowed for suspension to settle, the finer are the particle sizes
retained at the depth ‘He’. Hence sampling at different time intervals, at this sampling depth
He, would give the content of particles of different sizes.

If at any time interval t, MD is the mass, per ml, of all particles smaller than the diameter D still
in suspension at the depth He the percentage finer than D is given by:

𝐌𝐃
𝐍 = 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝐌𝐝 / 𝐕

Where, N = percentage finer than the diameter D

Md = total dry mass of all particles put in the suspension

V = volume of suspension

Limitations of Sedimentation Analysis based on Stokes’ law, or the assumptions are as

follows:

(i) The finer soil particles are never perfectly spherical. Their shape is flake-like or needle-like.
However, the particles are assumed to be spheres, with equivalent diameters, the basis of
equivalence being the attainment of the same terminal velocity as that in the case of a perfect
sphere. Thus, the sedimentation analysis gives the particles size equivalent diameter.

Stokes’ Law is considered valid for particle diameters ranging from 0.2 to 0.0002 mm.

For particle sizes greater than 0.2 mm, turbulent motion is set up and for particle sizes smaller
than 0.002 mm, Brownian motion is set up. In both these cases Stokes’ law is not valid.

(ii) Stokes’ law is applicable to a sphere falling freely without any interference, in an infinite
liquid medium. The sedimentation analysis is conducted in a one-litre jar, the depth being
finite; the walls of the jar could provide a source of interference to the free fall of particles near
it. The settlement of the particles is influenced by the surrounding particles as the liquid is not
of infinite extent. However, it is assumed that the effect of these sources of interference is
insignificant if suspension is prepared with about 50 g of soil per litre of water.

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(iii) All the soil grains may not have the same specific gravity. Different particles may have
different specific gravity, depending upon their mineral constituents. However, an average
value is considered all right, since the variation may be insignificant in the case of particles
constituting the fine fraction.

(iv) Particles constituting to fine soil fraction may carry surface electric charges, which have a
tendency to create ‘flocs. Unless these flocs are broken, the sizes calculated may be those of
the flocs. Flocs can be a source of erroneous results.

A deflocculating agent, such as sodium silicate, sodium oxalate, or sodium

hexametaphosphate, is used to get over this difficulty.

Pipette Method:

It is the standard sedimentation method used in the laboratory. The equipment consists of a
Pipette, a jar, number of sampling bottles. Generally, a boiling tube of 500 ml capacity is used
in place of a jar. A pipette for extracting samples from the jar or tube from the desired depth
(He).

The pipette consists of:

(i) 125 ml bulb with stop cock, for keeping distilled water.

(ii) A three-way stopcock

(iii) Suction and wastewater outlets, and

(iv) Sampling pipette of 10 ml capacity.

The method consists in drawing off samples of soil suspension, 10 ml in volume, by means of
this pipette from a depth of 10 cm (He) at various time intervals after the commencement of the
sedimentation. The recommended time intervals are: 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8 ,15 and 30 minutes, and 1,
2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours, reckoned from the commencement of the test. The pipette should be
inserted in the boiling tube about 25 seconds before the selected time interval and the time
taken for sucking the sample should not be more than 10 to 20 seconds. Each sample so taken,
is transferred into suitable sampling bottles and dried in an oven. The mass MD of solids per ml
of suspension is the thus found by taking the dry mass and dividing it by 10.

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Fig 1. Pipette Analysis Apparatus

Method of preparing soil suspension

In the sedimentation analysis, only those particles which are finer than 75 micron size are
included. The soil sample is washed through a 75 Micron sieve. About 12 to 30 gram of oven
dried sample is accurately weighed and mixed with distilled water in a dish to form a thin
smooth paste. To have proper dispersion of soil, a dispersing agent (de-flocculating agent) is
added to the soil.

Some of the common dispersing agents are:

Sodium oxalate, sodium silicate and sodium polyphosphate compounds as such as tetrasodium
pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate (Calgon), and sodium tripolyphosphate.

IS: 2720 (Part IV)- 1965 recommends the use of dispersing solution consisting 33 gm of the
sodium hexametaphosphate and 7 gm of sodium carbonate in distilled water to make 1 litre of
solution. 25 ml of this solution is added to the dish (containing the soil and distilled water) and
the mixture is warmed gently for about 10 minutes. The contents are then transferred to the cup
of a mechanical mixer, using a jet of distilled water to wash all traces of the soil out of the
evaporating dish. The soil suspension is then stirred well for 15 minutes or longer clayey soils.

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The suspension is then washed through 75 micron sieve, using the jet of distilled water and the
suspension, which has passed through the sieve, is transferred to the 500ml capacity boiling
tube (sedimentation tube). Care should be taken that all the particles finer than 75 micron size
are transferred to the tube. The tube is then filled to the 500 ml mark, by adding distilled water.
The tube is then put in a constant temperature water bath. When the temperature in the tube has
been stabilized to the temperature of the bath, the soil suspension is thoroughly shaken by
inverting the tube several times, and then replaced in the bath. The stopwatch, is then started,
and the soil samples are collected at various time intervals, with the help of the pipette.

Those soils which contains organic matter and calcium compound, are pre-treated before the
dispersing agent is mixed since these contents act as cementing agents and cause the particles
to settle as aggregations of particles instead of as individuals. The process of removal of organic
matter and calcium compound is known as Pre-treatment.

The soil is first treated with hydrogen peroxide solution to remove organic matter by oxidation.

Calculation of D and N

10 ml are collected from the soil suspension (sedimentation tube) from a depth of 10 cm, with
the help of the pipette, at various time intervals. The samples are collected into the weighing
bottles (sampling bottles), and kept in the oven for drying.

The mass MD, per ml of suspension so collected is calculated as:

𝐃𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞

𝐌𝐃 =
𝐕𝐩

Where, Vp = volume of the pipette

= volume of sample collected in the weighing bottle = 10 ml

The percentage finer calculated from the following expression:

𝐦
𝐌𝐃 − 𝐕
𝐍′ = 𝐱 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝐌𝐝 / 𝐕

Where, m = mass of dispersing agent present in the total suspension of volume V

V = Volume of suspension = 500 ml

N’ = percentage finer, based on Md

If 25 ml of dispersing agent solution, containing 33 gm of sodium hexametaphosphate and 7

gm of sodium carbonate per litre is used, we get:

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33 + 7
𝑚= 𝑥 25 = 1 𝑔𝑚
1000

The corresponding diameter D of the particle, to which the above percentage of the soil is finer,
is calculated by

𝟑𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝛈 𝐇𝐞
𝐃 =√ .√
(𝐆 − 𝟏) 𝛄𝐰 𝐭

The apparatus is very sensitive, very accurate weighing are required and also takes more time.
Due to these reasons, Hydrometer method of sedimentation analysis is preferred.

Hydrometer Method:

Hydrometer method of sedimentation analysis differs from the pipette analysis in the method
of taking observations- the principles of the test being the same in both the cases. In the pipette
analysis, the mass MD per ml of the suspension is found directly by collecting 10 ml sample of
soil suspension from the sampling depth He. However, in the hydrometer analysis, MD is
computed indirectly by reading the density of the soil suspension at a depth He, at various time
intervals. In the pipette test, the sampling depth He is kept constant (=10 cm), while in the
hydrometer test, the sampling depth (also known as effective depth) goes on increasing the
particles settle with the increase in the time intervals. It is therefore necessary calibrate the
hydrometer and the sedimentation jar before the start of the sedimentation test, to find a relation
between He and the density readings of hydrometer.

Calibration of Hydrometer

The readings on the hydrometer stem give the density of the soil suspension situated at the
centre of the bulb at any time. For convenience, the hydrometer readings are recorded after
subtracting 1 and multiplying the remaining digits by 1000. Such a reduced reading is
designated as Rh.

For example, if the density reading at the intersection of horizontal surface of soil suspension
with the stem, is 0.010, it is recorded as 10 (i.e., Rh = 10). Similarly, a density reading of 0.995
is recorded as Rh = − 5.

The hydrometer reading Rh (and also the density reading) increase in the downward direction
towards the hydrometer bulb. Let H be the height, in cm, between any hydrometer reading Rh
and the neck, and h the height of the bulb.

Figure shows the jar, containing the soil suspension. when the hydrometer is immersed in the
jar, the water level aa rises to a1a1 the rise being equal to the volume Vh of the hydrometer
divided by the internal area of cross-section A of the jar. Similarly, the level bb rises to b1b1,
where bb is the level, situated at a depth He below the top level aa, at which is the density
measurements of the soil suspension are being taken. The rise between bb and b1b1 will be
approximately equal to Vh /2 A. The level b1b1 is now corresponding to the centre of the bulb,
but the soil particles at b1b1 are of the same concentration as they were at bb.

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Therefore, we have

𝐡 𝐕𝐡 𝐕𝐡 𝟏 𝐕𝐡
𝐇𝐞 = (𝐇 + + )− = 𝐇 + (𝟏 − )
𝟐 𝟐𝐀 𝐀 𝟐 𝐀

where, He = effective depth

H = the depth

which depends upon the hydrometer which depends upon the hydrometer reading Rh.

Fig 2. Hydrometer Analysis

Test Procedure

The method of preparation of the method of preparation of soil suspension is same as in the
pipette method. The volume of suspension is 1000 ml in this case and hence, double the
quantity of dry soil and dispersing agent is taken. The sedimentation jar (cylindrical) is shaken
vigorously and is then kept vertical over a solid base. The stop watch is simultaneously started.
The hydrometer is slowly inserted in the jar and reading are taken at 1/2, 1 and 2 minutes time
intervals. The hydrometer is taken out. More readings are taken at the following time intervals:
4, 8, 15, 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4 hours etc. To take the reading, the hydrometer is inserted about
30 seconds before the given time interval, so that it is stable at the time when the reading is to
be taken. Since, the soil suspension is opaque, the reading is taken corresponding to the upper
level of the meniscus. A suitable meniscus correction is then applied to the hydrometer reading.

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Corrections to the Hydrometer Readings

The following three corrections are necessary:

1. Meniscus correction

2. Temperature correction

3. Dispersing agent correction.

1. Meniscus Correction

The reading should be taken at the lower level of the meniscus. Since, the soil suspension is
opaque, the reading is taken at the top of the meniscus. Actual reading, to be taken at the water
level, will be more. Therefore, a correction is required to be applied to the observed reading.
Since the hydrometer readings increase downward on the stem, the meniscus correction (Cm)
is obviously positive.

The magnitude can be found by immersing hydrometer in a jar containing distilled water and
finding the difference between the reading corresponding to the top and bottom levels of the
meniscus.

2. Temperature Correction

Hydrometers are usually calibrated at a temperature of 27°C. If the temperature at the time of
the soil suspension is not 27°C, a temperature correction (Ct) should be applied to the observed
hydrometer reading. If the temperature at the time of test is more than 27°C, the hydrometer
reading will naturally be less than what is should be and hence the temperature correction (Ct)
would be positive and vice versa.

3. Dispersing Agent Correction

The addition of the deflocculating agent increases the density of the suspension and thus
necessitates a correction (Cd) which is always negative. This is obtained by immersing the
hydrometer, alternately in clean distilled water and a solution of the deflocculating agent in
water (with the same concentration as is to be used in the test), and noting the difference in the
reading.

Thus, the corrected hydrometer reading R is given by:

R = Rh’+ Cm ± Ct – Cd

where, Rh’ = observed hydrometer reading at the top of the meniscus.

The three corrections can be combined into one correction, known as the Composite correction
±𝐶 and can be represented as:

Rh = Rh’ ± C

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The corrected hydrometer reading (Rh)

Where, C = Cm – Cd ± Ct

Calculation of D and N

The particle size D is calculated from

𝐇𝐞
𝐃 = 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝐅 √
𝐭

3000 η
Where, F = √ is a constant factor.
(G − 1)γw

For various time intervals, Rh is found corresponding values of He. Substituting the values of
He (cm) and t (minutes), the diameter D (mm) is computed. To calculate the percentage of the
soil finer than this diameter, the mass MD per ml of suspension at effective depth He is first
calculated as under. Since, the hydrometer readings have been recorded by subtracting 1 from
the (ρ) readings and multiplying them by 1000, we have

R
R = (ρ – 1) 1000 or ρ = 1 + ……………. (1)
1000

where, ρ is the density reading actually marked on the hydrometer, R is the hydrometer reading
corrected for the composite correction.

Now, let us consider 1 ml of soil suspension, at a time interval t, at the effective depth H e. If
MD
MD is the mass of solids in this 1 ml suspension, the mass of water in it will be = 1−
G

𝑀𝐷
Total mass of 1 ml suspension = 1− + 𝑀𝐷
𝐺

𝑀𝐷
Hence density of the suspension = 1 − + 𝑀𝐷 …………………… (2)
𝐺

Equating eq. (1) and (2), we get;

𝑅 𝑀𝐷
1 + = 1− + 𝑀𝐷
1000 𝐺

or

𝑅 𝐺
𝑀𝐷 = ( )
1000 𝐺 − 1

Where G = specific gravity of soil solids (average)

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Substituting the value of MD in eq.

𝑀𝐷
𝑁 = 𝑥 1000
𝑀𝑑 / 𝑉

we get;

𝑅 𝐺
(𝐺 − 1 )
𝑁′ = 1000 𝑥 100
𝑀𝑑 / 𝑉

taking V = 1000 ml, we get;

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐆
𝐍′ = 𝐑
𝐌𝐝 (𝐆 − 𝟏)

where, N’ = percentage finer with respect to Md

For various values of R, N’ can be computed. For combined sieve and sedimentation analysis,
if M is the total dry mass of the soil originally taken (before sieving it over 2 mm sieve), the
overall percentage finer N is given by

𝐌′
𝐍 = 𝐍′ 𝐱
𝐌

where, M’ = cumulative mass passing 2 mm sieve (out of which the soil having mass Md was

taken for the wet analysis)

M = total dry mass of soil sample

If the soil sample does not contain particles coarser than 2 mm sieve, N and N’ will be equal.

Particle Size Distribution Curve

Particle size distribution curve also known as Gradation curve, represents the distribution of
particles of different sizes in the soil mass. The grading of soil can be determined from the
particle size distribution curve.

The results of the mechanical analysis are plotted to get a particle size distribution curve with
the percentage finer N as the ordinate and the particle diameter as the abscissa, with the
diameter plotted on a logarithmic scale. The curve gives us the idea about the type and
gradation of the soil.

A soil is said to be “Well-graded”, if it contains a good representation of various grain-sizes.

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If the soil contains grains of mostly one size, excess of certain particles and deficiency of the
other, it is said to be or “Poorly graded”.

If the soil has most of the particles of the same size it is known as “Uniformly graded”

A curve with a flat portion represents a soil in which the intermediate size particles are missing
or if it is deficient in a particular range of particle sizes. Such a soil is known as “Gap-graded”
or “Skip graded”.

The more uniform a soil is, the steeper is its grain-size distribution curve.

For coarse grained soil, certain particle sizes such as D10, D30 and D60 are important. The size
D10 represents the size, in mm such that 10% of the particles are finer than this size. The size
D10 is sometimes called the effective size or effective diameter.

Fig 3. Particle Size Distribution Curve

Uniformity Co-efficient or (Co-efficient of Uniformity) (CU) - It is the measure of particle-

size range and is given by the ration of D60 and D10 sizes.

𝑫𝟔𝟎
𝑪𝑼 =
𝑫𝟏𝟎

where, D60 = particle size such that 60% of the soil is finer than this soil.

and, D10 = particle size such that 10% of the soil is finer than this soil.

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 Geotechnical Engg. -I (VI Sem)

Larger the numerical value of CU, more is the range of particles. For a uniformly graded soil,
CU is nearly 1, CU must be greater than 4 for gravels and 6 for sands.

Co-efficient of Curvature (CC)- The shape of the particle is represented by this.

(𝑫𝟑𝟎 )𝟐
𝑪𝑪 =
𝑫𝟏𝟎 𝒙 𝑫𝟔𝟎

Where, D60 = particle size such that 60% of the soil is finer than this soil.

D30 = particle size such that 30% of the soil is finer than this soil.

D10 = particle size such that 10% of the soil is finer than this soil.

For a well graded soil, CC must be between 1 and 3.

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